Melbourne Storm enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona will have his grand final fate determined as he challenges his four-match suspension for a high shot on Lindsay Collins in the preliminary final at the NRL judiciary.
The Storm will need to have the charge reduced to Grade 1 high contact to downgrade his sanction to a fine and free him for Sunday’s grand final against the Penrith Panthers.
The Roar will be posting live updates here as the judiciary hearing unfolds from 6pm (AEST).
Refresh this article to get the latest news as it happens and let us know in the comments whether you think he should get banned or be allowed to play in the GF.
6.50pm: The panel has been shown vision of the incident from no less than 10 camera angles. The NRL is being represented at the hearing by Lachlan Gyles SC with Roosters doctor Mathew Morgan called upon to give evidence about how Collins was concussed by the hit.
6.30 update: Geoff Bellew is the chair of the panel which consists of ex-referee Paul Simpkins and former Kangaroos back-rower Bob Lindner. Bellew will have the casting vote if the other two cannot reach agreement. There has been a slight delay in getting underway and now Ghabar is arguing the case or his cient to get a double downgrade.
They have pleaded guilty and only want to prove that it was a grade-one offence not a grade three.
6pm update: Asofa-Solomona has arrived at NRL HQ with legal eagle Nick Ghabar and Storm football manager Frank Ponissi to front the judiciary panel.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
5pm update: Asofa-Solomona has flown to Sydney to face an expedited NRL judiciary hearing.
The Storm will seek a downgrading with Asofa-Solomona for the four-match ban for the high tackle that knocked out Collins.
Asofa-Solomona has pleaded guilty, but will push for a double downgrade from a grade-three to a grade-one offence and instead argue he should only receive a $3000 fine.
The Storm were shocked that their star Kiwi prop was handed a grade-three charge, and immediately sought the advice of lawyer Nick Ghabar, who will represent Asofa-Solomona on Monday night.
The Storm have previously had success in similar circumstances, with Billy Slater avoiding a ban for a shoulder charge in the 2018 grand final week.
If Asofa-Solomona fails in his bid to downgrade the charge, he will receive a five-game ban.
Beyond the grand final, three of those matches would likely be absorbed by New Zealand’s Pacific Championships campaign.
Joe Chan or Lazarus Vaalepu appears the likeliest to come into the 17 if he is banned but the pair have played only 21 NRL games and neither has featured yet in this finals series.
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